Israeli FM gets hot reception in Arab Mauritania

Wednesday, May 04, 2005 |

There were violent anti-Israel demonstrations in the West African nation of Mauritania as Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom arrived on an official visit. Police fired teargas to disperse protesters who threw stones, burned tires and shouted "Down with Zionism!" and "Shalom is a dog!" Mauritania, an Islamic republic, became the third Arab League state to establish diplomatic relations with Israel in 1999, following Egypt and Jordan. Shalom held talks with President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, the pro-Western leader of a country sandwiched between black and Arab Africa. "We believe that the good relationship we have with Mauritania can be an example of the sort of relationship we could have with the Arab world,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.

Want more news from Israel?Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates